Truthfully, I'd love to support such a game how I can. If it's space you need, I can help. If it's participants, I can probably help. If it's money, I, unfortunately, cannot (yet).
“You have by now received a multitude of applications from a veritable menagerie of do-gooders, pragmatists, and high-achievers who would all like to solve some problem or create something of value. In other words, they would like to play the “change the world” game.
But here, finally, you have something else—a deviation, an anomaly—and for you, an opportunity: an opportunity to play a different game, a game with no world-changing aspirations (and therefore the only game that can achieve this aspiration in a truly profound and lasting manner); an opportunity to defect from the utilitarian logic which rules with an iron fist over the world of applications and proposals; an opportunity to resist the will of the Machine, that omnipresent and ever more powerful impulse towards efficiency and control; an opportunity to erect a monument to the glorious uselessness of the merely human.”
They should have awarded it after reading this section.
The best part - and this proves how wildly useless I am - is that I waited until the last day to send it in and I misread the length limits - it was 1000 characters per response NOT 1000 words. I know Jim O'Shaughnessy is an occasional reader of the blog so I messaged him and asked if they would still consider it. He said they would so I emailed it to his people, never heard back...
There is something deeply profound and moving about the short video. It feels almost like... a snapshot of the absurdity of life. The juxtaposition of the absurd with the banality of life. What can a sock know, to be happy?
You have no idea how much of a deeply enlightening experience this was for me. I have made plans to sell all my world possessions and move to Tibet to become a monk and reflect on my newfound pearls of wisdoms. As I type this, my wife is scared and my kids are crying. They don't understand why the movers are here and why they're taking away all my stuff. Too mired in the vapidity of their emotions to contemplate the momentous shift that's happening in my life. A thousands tiny bursts of joy explode in my mind. My mind's eye is fixated on that curb, that lone shop whose sole purpose in life is to make socks happy. Maybe its just the cocaine.
I hope they can understand one day. I hope one day, my kids can come upon this masterpiece that is nothing short of art.
But now I must go. I hear sirens and my wife's screams. For a short while, the banalities of life tug, tug hard against me - like an ever swirling whirlpool of emotions and empty platitudes. Of prayers sung and curses swallowed.
But do not worry, for I will persevere.
I may not reach my destination, but a man bearing my name will.
If only the machine would slow down and let someone like you climb in and take a seat. Alas it could never be, in this version. In my version your application would be seen as the appreciative enquiry it is, recognised for the opportunity a mapless plan provides, and embraced as worth it.
Thank you for writing as you do, I really love your way with words and orthogonal perspectives 💫
I haven't read the book but I have read about it...I wasn't thinking about the glass bead game at all when writing, but when I finished it did occur to me that I am describing something very similar.
You shared this with me last week-ish in response to a Note. Glad I saved this and read it. Absolutely fascinating and moving.
Although I can see why it was rejected - I mean, there's literally nothing actionable here (other than "stop being so damn serious all the time", which to be clear is literally the best advice on earth).
But this piece is exactly what an essay/ambitious post should be - an environment for thinking in. And I did.
> not philanthropy with spreadsheets, but utterly senseless acts of goodness ... by far my favorite line. Sometimes the answer to a thing in life is "why the fuck not." In fact that's the best answer there is, to anything.
Also ideas-as-a-virus reminded me of Snow Crash, a positively life-changing book (one of its themes: language-as-a-virus).
Fuck yeah.
shit yeah
I am sorry to hear it.
Truthfully, I'd love to support such a game how I can. If it's space you need, I can help. If it's participants, I can probably help. If it's money, I, unfortunately, cannot (yet).
Money is irrelevant (always has been). Will DM you
“You have by now received a multitude of applications from a veritable menagerie of do-gooders, pragmatists, and high-achievers who would all like to solve some problem or create something of value. In other words, they would like to play the “change the world” game.
But here, finally, you have something else—a deviation, an anomaly—and for you, an opportunity: an opportunity to play a different game, a game with no world-changing aspirations (and therefore the only game that can achieve this aspiration in a truly profound and lasting manner); an opportunity to defect from the utilitarian logic which rules with an iron fist over the world of applications and proposals; an opportunity to resist the will of the Machine, that omnipresent and ever more powerful impulse towards efficiency and control; an opportunity to erect a monument to the glorious uselessness of the merely human.”
They should have awarded it after reading this section.
The best part - and this proves how wildly useless I am - is that I waited until the last day to send it in and I misread the length limits - it was 1000 characters per response NOT 1000 words. I know Jim O'Shaughnessy is an occasional reader of the blog so I messaged him and asked if they would still consider it. He said they would so I emailed it to his people, never heard back...
Better to ask for forgiveness than permission
always
Bah! Fuck the money. Do the thing, accept no money, for they are unworthy of giving it to you.
preach
Not Jose Luis Borges, but Jorge Luis Borges xD
Awesome text anyway
God fucking dammit lol, how am I going to mess up my favorite author's name...thanks for the correction :)
First of all, this is beautiful.
Thanks dude :)
So so so good man
Thanks dude!
There is something deeply profound and moving about the short video. It feels almost like... a snapshot of the absurdity of life. The juxtaposition of the absurd with the banality of life. What can a sock know, to be happy?
You have no idea how much of a deeply enlightening experience this was for me. I have made plans to sell all my world possessions and move to Tibet to become a monk and reflect on my newfound pearls of wisdoms. As I type this, my wife is scared and my kids are crying. They don't understand why the movers are here and why they're taking away all my stuff. Too mired in the vapidity of their emotions to contemplate the momentous shift that's happening in my life. A thousands tiny bursts of joy explode in my mind. My mind's eye is fixated on that curb, that lone shop whose sole purpose in life is to make socks happy. Maybe its just the cocaine.
I hope they can understand one day. I hope one day, my kids can come upon this masterpiece that is nothing short of art.
But now I must go. I hear sirens and my wife's screams. For a short while, the banalities of life tug, tug hard against me - like an ever swirling whirlpool of emotions and empty platitudes. Of prayers sung and curses swallowed.
But do not worry, for I will persevere.
I may not reach my destination, but a man bearing my name will.
Godspeed, my friend, godspeed
(bahahaha you won the Secretorum comment of the century. The prize is a pair of happy socks - will DM you, not kidding at all).
This is just brilliant :) whoever rejected this has no soul.
If only the machine would slow down and let someone like you climb in and take a seat. Alas it could never be, in this version. In my version your application would be seen as the appreciative enquiry it is, recognised for the opportunity a mapless plan provides, and embraced as worth it.
Thank you for writing as you do, I really love your way with words and orthogonal perspectives 💫
Thank you Aimee! :)
Glass Bead Game?
I haven't read the book but I have read about it...I wasn't thinking about the glass bead game at all when writing, but when I finished it did occur to me that I am describing something very similar.
I thought so, would be curious to hear your thoughts after you read it
In for whatever this is (have DMed you)
You shared this with me last week-ish in response to a Note. Glad I saved this and read it. Absolutely fascinating and moving.
Although I can see why it was rejected - I mean, there's literally nothing actionable here (other than "stop being so damn serious all the time", which to be clear is literally the best advice on earth).
But this piece is exactly what an essay/ambitious post should be - an environment for thinking in. And I did.
> not philanthropy with spreadsheets, but utterly senseless acts of goodness ... by far my favorite line. Sometimes the answer to a thing in life is "why the fuck not." In fact that's the best answer there is, to anything.
Also ideas-as-a-virus reminded me of Snow Crash, a positively life-changing book (one of its themes: language-as-a-virus).
Cheers man, loved this.